Parkinson’s Stigma for Women

Societal expectations and assumptions about how Parkinson’s presents for women can lead to women being overlooked in terms of their own needs and experiences. In this episode, host Larry Gifford talks to Sree Sripathy and Richelle Flanagan, co-founders of the Women's Parkinson's Project, about Parkinson’s Stigma for Women.

More about our guests:

Richelle Flanagan
Richelle is a CORU state registered dietitian who has been practicing for 20 years. She was president and CEO of the of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI), the professional body for Dietitians in Ireland. She was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s Disease shortly after the birth of her second child. She is a World Parkinson Congress Ambassador and a member of the Dublin Committee of the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland. She is particularly passionate about two areas (1) the importance of diet for PD and (2) the unmet needs of women with PD. She is a co-founder of the Women’s Parkinson’s Project  and co-founder of a digital health start-up, My Moves Matter, a digital self-care companion to empower people with Parkinson’s to live better lives.

Sree Sripathy
Sree is a photographer and writer. She is an Ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation and a co-Founder of the Women's Parkinson's Project. She was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease in 2015 and currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Women with PD Hormone Study links referenced in the podcast:

• "Tracking Parkinson’s Disease (PD) symptoms, medications, and menstruation"
• Take the survey.
• News story - World's First Hormone Study in Women with Parkinson's Launches.